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ABSTRACT
The prevalence of child labor has, in recent years, become a serious problem throughout the world
and especially in many poor developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Being one of
the most densely populated poverty-stricken countries of the world the problem of child labor has
become one of the prime concerns for the government and people of Bangladesh. This paper was
prepared in the light of the findings of a practical survey project that was conducted out of the
desire to know about the situation of the most unfortunate as well as deprived but most important
segment of the country’s population. Being the capital of the country the child labor situation of
Dhaka would certainly serves as an indicator of the whole country. Hence Dhaka City Corporation
was taken as the basis of this survey. The paper produces the findings on different important
differentials of the child labor, such as- causes of child labor, causes of rural-urban migration, hours
of work and provisions for leave, income expenditure and savings, educational background and
some other important related topics.
conditions. Such manipulations stifle the selected countries, namely India, Indonesia,
development of youths. Their working conditions Senegal, Ghana, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand
do not provide the stimulation for proper physical and Nepal during 1994 to 1996.
and mental development. Finally, these children are
Figure 1: Global trends in number (in million) of
deprived of the simple joys of childhood, relegated
working children (Age 5-14 years) by region, (2000 -
instead to a life of drudgery. However, there are 2004)
problems with the obvious solution of abolishing
2 50 .0 211.0 190.7
child labor. 2000 2004
2 0 0 .0
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Glimpse on Child Labor
Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, Children Report puts it, "Children’s work needs to
1999 (NO182). Individual governments may define be seen as happening along a continuum, with
"child" according to different ages or other criteria destructive or exploitative work at one end and
depending on its respective socio economic beneficial work - promoting or enhancing
perspective. children’s development without interfering with
their schooling, recreation and rest - at the other.
The magnitude of child labor problem depends on And between these two poles are vast areas of
how we define ‘Child labor’ and the minimum age work that need not negatively affect a child’s
limit we set for admission to work. If only the development." Other social scientists have slightly
children in full-time employment are defined as different ways of drawing the line between
child laborers the number of child labor will be acceptable and unacceptable work. However
relatively low. On the other hand, if the part time "Child labor" is, generally speaking, work for
economic activities after school hours, work during children that harm them or exploit them in some
holidays, all forms of activities to assists members way (physically, mentally, morally, or by blocking
of the family in their economic activities, etc. are access to education).
also defined as child labor then the number will be
very large indeed. Here at Bangladesh the legal context of child labor
is in a state of confusion because of the existent of
In recent days the concept of child labor usually about half a dozen labor laws related to different
based on the convention No. 138, that represents sectors, which have set different minimum ages for
the most comprehensive and authoritative admission to work. Also in most of the cases as the
international definition of minimum age for law are not effectively enforced, they have little
admission to employment or work, implying impact on the actual of employment of children,
“economic activity”. Convention No. 138 stipulates
that ratifying states fix a minimum age and it In 1933, an Act was passed under the British
defines a range of minimum ages below which no regime to prohibit the pledging of the labor of
child should be allowed to work. More specifically, children. According to the Act, a “child” means
the convention lies down that the minimum age who is under the age of 15 years. The
shall not be less than the age of completion of “Employment of Children Act, 1938” set the
compulsory schooling and any case not less than 15 minimum age for employment in certain specified
years. In case of a country whose economy and occupations at 15 years.
educational facilities are not sufficiently developed,
the minimum age may be initially fixed in
consultation with the organizations of employers The factory Act of 1965 fixed the minimum age at
and workers, at 14 years. Convention no. 138 14 years for admission to employment. On the
further stipulates that the minimum age of other hand, the Shops and Establishment Act, 1965
admission to employment or work that is likely to set the minimum age at 12 years. The government
jeopardize the health, safety or morals of young of Bangladesh has drafted a labor code, which
persons shall not be less than 18 years. Thus in would bring uniformity in regard to the minimum
view of the provisions of the conventions of the age for children’s employment or work and fix it at
ILO and UN convention on the rights of the child, 14 years. The code is awaiting approval of the
the upper age limit for investigating children’s parliament.
economic activities can be set at any level from 12
to 18. The ILO Convention no. 59 which has been ratified
by Bangladesh in 1973, on the other hand, fixes the
Also not all work performed by children is minimum age for admission to industrial
equivalent to “child labor” needing abolition. Also employment at the age of 12 (in terms of a
there is no universally accepted definition of "child provision special to certain countries including
labor". International organizations, non- Bangladesh).
governmental organizations, trade unions and other
interest groups use varying definitions of the term. In this report the upper age limit is considered at
Writers and speakers don’t always specify what age 18. i.e. Boys and girls who were below the age
definition they are using, and that often leads to 18 and were involved in economic activities in the
confusion. As UNICEF’s 1997 State of the World’s Dhaka City Corporation area were considered as
21
Iftekhar M Shafiqul Kalam
the study population and was covered by this formulate national regulation and programs for
survey report. discouraging child labor in the country.
IV. EXTENT OF CHILD LABOR IN Like all other developing countries Bangladesh is
BANGLADESH also facing intense child labor problem. The total
number of children in Bangladesh is about 50.15
Although the law in Bangladesh prohibits million. Approximately ninety percent of these
employment in factories of child labor below 14 children used to go school. But more than half of
years of age the existence of child labor has been these school-going children drop out before they
recognized in Bangladesh National Children Policy have completed their primary education.
announced by the government in December 1994. Afterwards most of these children get themselves
According to this policy all boys and girls under 14 involved with labor market. With these perspective
years of age have been defined as children. the involvement of children with our labor market
Although there are a number of statute in has become a prime reason of anxiety.
Bangladesh prescribing certain minimum ages for
admission to employment children aged 5-14 years According to labor force survey conducted in 1996
are found working in households, fields and the total labor force in Bangladesh is 56 million,
factories as paid or unpaid labor. among them 6.6 million is child labor. On the other
hand according to the information of Bangladesh
The child labors in Bangladesh are more usually Bureau of Statistics (BBS, 1996) the number of
found in urban and city areas although a vast children of age between 5-14 is 36 million that is
majority of them are employed in agriculture and about 18 percent of total child population get
related sectors of rural areas. The urban child themselves involved in different types of child
worker are mostly engaged in such activities as labor related works. 94 percent of these child
selling of foods like peanuts, ice creams, flowers, labors are engaged in different non-institutional
cigarettes and other cheap articles, domestic works while the rest are engaged in institutional
servants, porters, shoeshine boys, and carries of jobs.
lunch packets to offices and other work places,
cleaners, helpers in small automobile and other The labor force survey also reveals that 66 percent
workshops. At present, dependable, comprehensive of the total child labor forces are engaged in
and up-to-date information on child labor in agricultural sector, while 8 percent in industrial
Bangladesh are not available. Several rounds of sector, 2 percent in road transportation and
Labor Force Surveys (LFS) conducted periodically communication sector, 14 percent in house keepers
since 1980 by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and other jobs and the rest 10 percent are working
(BBS) and other government or non-government in different services.
organizations provide aggregate level data on child
labor situation in Bangladesh. Some of these About 83 percent of total child labors live in rural
surveys are: area, while the rest 17 percent in urban area. 79%
• Labor Force Survey 1989 (Conducted by of the village child labors are working in
Ministry of Labor & Manpower, GOB), agricultural sector. These children help their
• National Children Policy Survey parents by working in their own/neighbors land
(Conducted by: Ministry of Woman and area on part time basis.
Children Affairs, GOB),
• Division of Labor in Rural Bangladesh According to “Rapid Assessment of Child Labor
(Conducted by: Bangladesh Institute of Situation in Bangladesh” - a survey conducted by
Development Studies), ILO and UNICEF in 1994, the children of
• National Sample Survey of Child Labor in Bangladesh in the urban area give labor in 300
Bangladesh, 1995-96 (BBS), Child Labor different types of economic activities. Out of these
Situation in Bangladesh – A Rapid 300 different types of economic activities 47 types
Assessment (Conducted by ILO, in of work are categorized as more harmful for the
collaboration with UNICEF) etc. children. Since in these works often the
children become exposed to excessive heat, toxic
These studies facilitate to some extent as the basis chemical reagents and many more hazardous
of in-depth studies on the subject and help consequences.
22
Glimpse on Child Labor
V. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY percent live along with their employers and 5.2
percent live along with their co-workers
The specific objectives of this practical survey
project is to gain information regarding the At night about 49.2 percent could sleep with their
following: parents, while 25.6 percent of working children
provided residential facilities by their employers.
1) To assess the living condition of the working Such sleeping facilities are found to be mutually
children, featuring: beneficial for both the employers and the
a) They’re living arrangement, attachment employee. The workers did not have to pay for
with their families, sleeping places etc. such a facility and it helps the employers to solve
b) Status of Food, Nutrition and access to the security problem of their respective business
health care facilities, places
c) Assess the access to pure water and
hygienic sanitation facilities, The working children had complained about bad
d) Assess the recreation arrangement, weather (32.68%) and mosquito bite (27.08) as
2) To assess the cause and nature of migration. main problem while sleeping. While 14.24 percent
3) Educational background: past and present of child workers also complained about the lack of
status and future interest (if possible). necessary sleeping materials such as pillow,
4) Working environment of the child labors: mattress, blanket, mosquito net, bed-sheet etc.
a) Extent of work,
b) Wage scale, utilization of the earned B. Migration Level:
money,
c) Health hazards received at the time of Among the child worker Migration from rural to
work, urban areas seemed to be very common. In
d) Relationship with their employee etc. majority of cases (62.6%) the child workers were
found to migrate along with their families.
VI. METHODOLOGY
The main cause behind migration was identified as
As stated earlier “at present, dependable, earning money/economic hardship (55.20 %)
comprehensive and up-to-date information on child (Figure 2).
labor in Bangladesh are not available…” my Figure 2: Percentage distribution of Reasons for Migration
choice of sample design was very much limited. 9.4%
of child workers
8.4%
There was severe financial and time constraint too.
Under the circumstances I was compelled to use 9.6%
convenience-sampling technique, in which I choose
the child labor from where I find them. In this 55.2%
17.4%
study a sample of 250 working children were
interviewed from different sites and locations of To earn money/ Economic hard ship River erosion / Loss of land and prope
the Dhaka City corporation like- New market, Death of head of the family Family conflict/Broken family
23
Iftekhar M Shafiqul Kalam
cause for their disruption in education. F. Usual Health Problem and Access to Health
Care Facilities:
D. Nature of Food Intake
While asked about the health problems of the
Regarding food habit, rice and bread were found to working children 48 percent of them were found to
be the two most favored items taken by almost all suffer different sorts of health problem such as
the working children very often they had to depend fever, stomach problem, dengue, measles etc.
on left over rice. during the course of three-month period previous to
the study period.
About 65% of the working children admitted that
they had to contribute more or less for their meals. They usually depend on available low cost
treatment facilities, like homeopathic doctor (21.2
E. Access to Pure water and Sanitation %), local community clinic, local medicine seller
Facilities (38.4 %) etc.
24
Glimpse on Child Labor
work all the 7 days of a week (Figure 3). The data v. Relationship With the Employers
revealed that 44.8 percent child workers had to
work 10 to 12 hours a day. The relationship between the child workers and
their employers is like rainbow – a spectrum
Figure 3: Number of Days Work in a Week
ranging from very exploitative /abusive to very
6% supportive and excellent.
25
Iftekhar M Shafiqul Kalam
• Organizing rallies, meeting, and seminars suitable long term economic measures, obviously
to create and increase social awareness with massive international support.
regarding the consequences of child labor.
REFERENCES
• Employer’s attitude of depriving the child
labor from getting his/her proper wage Ahmed, A. and Quasem, M.A. (1991), Child Labor
should be changed. In Bangladesh: Department of Economics,
• Ensure the better working conditions, Lund University, Sweden
building awareness regarding health
A J M Sufian, Method and Techniques of Social
related issues could enable creating a
Research (Dhaka, University Press Limited),
welfare condition for these distressed
1998
children.
• Enforce the law of Birth Registration. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS, 1993),
Statistical Year Book of Bangladesh: 1992;
• Ensure social security for the working Dhaka
children and as well as for their families.
• Irrespective of cast, creed, religion and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS, 1992),
gender rights to participate in cultural, Report on labor Force Survey 1989
games and sports activities, and other Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS, October
recreational activities should be preserved. 1996), Report on National Sample Survey of
Child Labor in Bangladesh: 1995-96; Dhaka
IX. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Bequele, A. and J. Boyden. 1988. "Working
In conducting this Practical Survey Project the Children: Current Trends and Policy
following problems were encountered – Responses." International Labor Review 127,
• Lack of financial and logistic support 2: 153-171.
• Problems in determining the sample
design and sample size. Cain. M (1997) Economic Activities of Children in
a Village in Bangladesh: Population and
• Non-cooperation: It was difficult to
collect information from the working Development Revie w, Vol.13.No.3
children. Since most of them thought Child Labor Situation in Bangladesh: A rapid
answering the questions as the waste of Assessment, Dr, Wahidur Rahman
time. Many employers were also doubtful
about the objective of the survey and did ‘Child Labor: Its Regulations by the ILO Standards
not let me interview the children working National Legislation’: International Labor
in the office. Review, Vol.121.
• Though the scope of the study was much
broader but it was not possible for me to Every Child Counts (www.ilo.org/public/english/
carry out extensive research work standards/ipec/simpoc/others/globalest.pdf)
involving several differentials that may be ILO, Resolution concerning statistics of the
important in this context. economically active population, employment,
unemployment and underemployment,
X. CONCLUSION Thirteenth International Conference of Labour
It may be stated that child labor, as it is today, Statisticians (Geneva, ILO, October 1982).
cannot be completely eliminated unless the ILO (International Labour Office). 1993. Bulletin
economy of the country is developed creating job of Labour Statistics 1993-3. Geneva.
opportunities for the vast majority of its adult work
force. It is believed that poverty alleviation is a pre ILO (International Labour Office). 1992. World
condition to elimination or at least minimization of Labour Report 1992. Geneva.
child labor. In other words, child labor is such a
major chronic economic issue in Bangladesh that it Rahman, H. (1992) Situation of Street Children : a
cannot be stopped simply by a piece of legislation, Preliminary Study : ShoiShob Bangladesh,
rather it can be eliminated only by adoption of Dhaka. Labor Use in Rural Bangladesh.
26
Glimpse on Child Labor
Report on National Sample Survey of Child Labor United Nations. 1989. Revisions, Global Estimates
in Bangladesh 1995-96, BBS. and Projections of Population by Age and Sex.
New York.
Report on Labor Force Survey 1995-96, Ministry
of Labor & Manpower, GOB. Weiner, M. 1991. The Child and the State in India.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Statistical Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University
and Cultural Organization). 1993. Statistical Press.
Yearbook. Paris.
William G. Cochran, Sampling Techniques (?,
UNICEF (1990) Children and Development in the Willey Eastern Limited, third Edition, 1977)
1990s; Newyork.
Appendix I
Questionnaire
Glimpse on Child Labor- A Study on Child Labor Situation in
Dhaka City Corporation Area
(To be asked of all children of aged below 18 years)
Segment 1
(Personal Questions)
1. Name of the respondent 3. Age:
2. Sex of the respondent 1- 4. Total number family member
0- Male
Female in your family:
Segment 2
(Questions related with Life & Living Condition of the Working Children)
5. Are your parents alive? 6. With whom do you live?
1-Both alive 3-Mother alive only. 1-Alone. 4-With friends.
2-Father alive only. 4-None alive. 2-With father/mother 5-With co-workers.
3-With brother/ 6-With employer.
sisters/ relative. 7-With others
(specify)
8. Are you 1-Yes.
7. Do you live permanent 1-Yes. (If Yes skip to 10)
migrated along 2-No.
in DCC area? 2-No.
with your family?
9. What is the reason(s) behind the migration of
10. Where do you usually sleep at night?
you/your family?
5-Local politics. 1- Parent’s house. 5- Open space.
1-To find work/earn money.
6-Family conflict. 2- Employer’s house. 6- Mess.
2-Death of head of family.
7-Others (Specify) 3- Work place. 7- Others
3-Landlessness.
4- Public places.
4-River erosion.
11. What sorts of problems do you usually during
12. Did you ever attend school?
sleeping?
A- 1 - Yes, currently attending.
B- 2 - Yes, but do not continuing at present.
C- 3 - Never ever attend school.
13. What is the highest class you have ever
completed? Class _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Specify)
14. What is/are the reasons for your drop out from /not attending school?
1-Economic hardship/to earn money. 4-Unstable residence/migration.
2-Personal disinterest/fear of teacher’s punishment. 5-Failure in the examination.
3-Parent’s disinterest/family’s non-cooperation. 6-Others. (Specify).
27
Iftekhar M Shafiqul Kalam
Segment 3
(Question regarding Food, Nutrition & Healthcare facilities)
15. With whom do you usually take your meals? 16. Do you have to pay/contribute for food?
1-Parents.
4-Relatives.
2-Employers. 1-Yes. 2-No.
5-Others.
3-Self.
17. What sorts of food do you usually take at meals?
Types of foods taken
Meals 1-Left over rice. 2-Hot rice. 3-Bread. 4-Others (Specify).
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
18. Did you take_ _ _ _ during last 7 days?
Egg 1- Yes 2- No Vegetables 1- Yes 2- No
Fish 1- Yes 2- No Milk 1- Yes 2- No
Meat 1- Yes 2- No Pulses 1- Yes 2- No
Fruit 1- Yes 2- No 1- Yes 2- No
Sources of water
Purpose Public Supply
19. What is your Tube well Surface Water Others
Water
main Source
Drinking
water for
Shower
Others
20. Do you boil your drinking 21. What sorts of toilet facilities do you
1- Yes 2- No
water? usually uses?
22. Do you have to share the latrine 1- Sanitary latrine
1- Yes 2- No 4- Public toilet.
facilities with others? (Pucca Latrine)
23. Do you suffer from any sorts of
1- Yes 2- No 2- Cutcha latrine 5- Jungle.
diseases during last 3 months?
1-
24. Name the diseases that you have
2- 3- Open Space. 6- Others. (Specify)
suffered during last 3 months?
3-
25. Where did you go to seek
(Specify)
treatment?
26. Who usually bear the cost of your
27. Where do you usually go to seek treatment?
treatment?
1. Allopathic medicine 5. Kabiraj (Indigenous
sellers/Pharmacy. physicians).
1- Parents. 4- Relatives.
2. Registered allopathic 6. Community Clinic/NGO
2- Employers. 5- Public hospitals.
doctors. 7. Others (Specify).
3- Self. 6- Others.
3. Homeopathic doctors.
4. Govt. hospitals.
Segment 4
(Question related with Child Labors Job & Working Environment)
28. What is your occupation? (Specify)
29. What is your employment status? 30. What is your nature of work?
1. Employee full time. 5. Paid apprentice.
1. Permanent.
2. Employee part time. 6. Unpaid apprentice.
2. Temporary.
3. Self-employed. 7. Day labor.
3. Seasonal.
4. Unpaid family worker. 8. Others (Specify) _ _ _
31. How many hours do you 32. How many days do
usually work in a day? you work in a week?
28
Glimpse on Child Labor
33. Do you work on holidays? 1-Yes with pay. 2-Yes with out pay. 3-No.
34. How is your relationship with
1- Good 2- Fair 3- Not good
the employer?
35. Does your employer treat
1- Yes, Regularly 2- Yes, occasionally 3- No
badly?
37. What sorts of Safety
36. Do you take any type of safety
1- Yes. 2- No. precaution do you
precautions while you work?
usually take?
39. Do you think that the
38. Is/are these precautions
1- Yes. 2- No. safety precaution you 1- Yes. 2- No.
provided by your employer?
take is sufficient?
40. Reasons for not taking any 1- Not aware of any
2- Poverty 3- Others
Safety precautions? danger
41. Did you receive any 1- Yes. 2- No. 42. What kind of
occupational injuries during injuries?
last 3 months?
43. Did you get any sorts of
medical/financial assistance
from your employer while you 1- Yes. 2- No.
receive any occupational
injuries?
45. Do you give part
44. What is your daily/monthly ________
of your income to 1- Yes. 2- No.
income? (Daily/Monthly)
your family?
1- Poverty/ family
maintenance.
47. What are the
46. Do you save a part of your 1- Yes. 2- No 2- Lack of
reasons for not
money? (Go to 48) (Go to 47) awareness about
saving money?
need to save.
3- Others
2- Post
3- NGO’s or 4- Friends
48. Where do you keep your office/other 5- Others
1- Bank. any other or
saving? public (specify).
organization. relatives.
Institution.
50. Are you related with any kind 51. What kind of
1- Yes. 2- No.
of organization? organization is that?
52. Would like to specify any
problem that you face in your
day-to-day life?
Segment 5
(Question regarding Nature and Extent of Recreation)
3- Different in door
1- Watching TV/ 2- Just walking
games (as lodo,
53. What is your main source of Listening music/Radio. around.
Chess, Karam etc).
recreation?
4- Performing games &
5- Gossiping. 6- Others (Specify).
sports
4- No
54. How many times in a week do
1- Almost 2- Once in every 3- Only on entertaining
you have entertaining
every day two days holidays. activities at all.
activities?
(Go to)
55. What is your main reason for 1- Do not get 2- Not interested. 3- Lack of 4- Others
not having recreational activities? enough time. facilities. (Specify)
29